# What You’ll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 4 large bell peppers, halved and seeded
→ Filling
02 - 1 cup sugar-free marinara sauce
03 - 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
04 - ½ cup mini pepperoni slices
05 - ½ cup cooked Italian sausage, crumbled (optional)
06 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
09 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
# Method:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F.
02 - Drizzle the bell pepper halves with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Arrange them cut-side up in a baking dish.
03 - In a bowl, combine the marinara sauce, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, cooked Italian sausage (if using), half the pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Mix well.
04 - Spoon the filling evenly into the pepper halves.
05 - Top each stuffed pepper with the remaining mozzarella, remaining pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese.
06 - Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
07 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the peppers are tender.
08 - Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.